Civil Society Organisations have come down hard on the senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi for calling on his supporters to attack and kill members of the Accord Party who come to campaign ahead Saturday’s governorship elections holding in the state.
In a viral video where the Senator spoke in Yoruba while campaigning in Ilesha, Osun State, the Senator who spoke in Yoruba while addressing supporters, warned against the activities of members of the Accord Party in the area ahead of the August 15 governorship election urging his supporters to confront Accord Party members if they encounter them before the election.
‘If we hear of Accord Party in Ilesha, there will be trouble. We will all come out and vote. Please record me. We are here, and between now and the election, if we see anyone from the Accord Party, we will kill them,’ he said.
The Senator in a statement by his media office, later clarified that what he meant was ‘a call on supporters to overwhelmingly reject the Accord Party at the ballot box through lawful, peaceful and democratic means during the August 15 governorship election.’
He said, ‘For the avoidance of doubt, the Senator’s statement was purely political and metaphorical. At no point did Senator Fadahunsi advocate violence, intimidation or any form of physical attack against members or supporters of the Accord Party or any other political party. ‘
The Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has condemned the alleged threat by Senator warning that such comments could heighten tension, suppress voter turnout and undermine the legitimacy of the poll.
CISLAC Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, described the senator’s comment as ‘condemnable,’ stressing that political leaders should be at the forefront of efforts to de-escalate violence rather than encourage it.
Rafsanjani, who spoke with Daily Trust while reacting to the senator’s threat, said electoral violence must not be taken lightly because of its damaging consequences for Nigeria’s democratic process.
‘First and foremost, we, CISLAC, condemn in totality electoral violence. Electoral violence is not something that should be taken lightly because it has incredible damage to our electoral process,’ he said.
According to him, Nigeria cannot achieve free, fair and credible elections if politicians and their supporters continue to deploy violence, intimidation and coercion in the electoral process.
He condemned the use of threats, physical force, intimidation, harassment and other forms of coercion to influence the electoral process, saying all actors involved in such activities must be held accountable.
‘The use of threats, physical force, either intimidation, disruption, harassment, or other form of coercion to influence electoral process in Nigeria is condemned by CISLAC,’ he said.
Rafsanjani also warned political supporters, armed groups, criminal gangs, security personnel and other actors allegedly involved in electoral violence that they must be held responsible for their actions.
‘We cannot, in the pretense of winning political power, engage in political thuggery,’ he said, adding that Nigeria must not tolerate the assassination of political activists, attacks on political rallies, destruction of campaign materials or attacks on INEC offices.
He further condemned hate speech and incitement to violence during election campaigns, stressing that political competition should not be reduced to violence and intimidation.
The CISLAC director warned that the senator’s alleged threat could have a direct impact on voter participation during Saturday’s election, particularly by creating fear among voters and political actors.
He added that the election could consequently be conducted ‘under intense fear,’ stressing that such an atmosphere was inconsistent with democratic elections. And the election will be done under intense fear. And that’s not how election should be,’ he said.
Speaking on the development, a member of the civil society organisations monitoring the 2026 Osun State governorship election called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to immediately arrest and prosecute Senator Fadaunsi over the alleged inciting statement capable of heightening tension ahead of Saturday’s poll.
The group said the statement was particularly disturbing coming barely five days to the election.
It warned that inflammatory comments by political actors could undermine the peaceful conduct of the exercise in a state that had witnessed several incidents of electoral violence in recent months.
Chairman of the Ballot Eyes Working Group, Olasupo Abideen Opeyemi, a coalition of civil society organisations monitoring electoral integrity and operating in the situation room from Osogbo for the 2026 gubernatorial election, described the senator’s alleged comment as ‘reckless’ and unbecoming of a member of the national Assembly.
He said it was a ‘national embarrassment’ that Nigerian politicians were still making statements capable of encouraging violence during elections, despite years of advocacy for peaceful participation.
According to him, his organisation had been campaigning under the ‘Vote Not Fight’ initiative, with particular attention to preventing violence against women and other vulnerable groups during elections.
He said the organisation had, only a day before, held a stakeholder engagement in Osun State where electoral violence, especially violence against women, featured prominently in discussions.
Against that background, he said the alleged statement by Fadaunsi was particularly troubling given the proximity of the election and the tense political atmosphere in the state.
The civil society leader urged INEC and the Nigeria Police Force to demonstrate their commitment to peaceful elections by taking immediate action against anyone whose statements could threaten public safety.
The group warned that the statement could have serious consequences for the conduct of Saturday’s election, particularly against the backdrop of violence allegedly involving political parties.
In an earlier reaction, the campaign council of Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to investigate and take appropriate action over a viral video showing Senator Francis Fadahunsi making an inciting comment against members of the Accord Party.
Spokesperson for the Adeleke campaign council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, urged the police to intervene.
He said, ‘This is a serious threat to lives and the peaceful conduct of the August 15 election.
‘Mr Inspector-General of Police, this must be addressed immediately. Nobody has the right to kill an Accord member or any citizen. Nobody has the right to stop Osun people from voting. Enough is enough!’ Olajengbesi said.
Our correspondents report that Fadahunsi, who is now a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and currently represents Osun East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before switching party.